Driver remanded for killing 3

By Kayode Olabanji

An Akure Chief Magistrate Court has ordered the remand of a 36-year-old driver, Abdulrasheed Abdullateef, in Olokuta prison for allegedly driving dangerously on the public highway which caused an accident that led to the death of three persons.

Abdulateef, being the driver of one Toyota Camry car with the number plate EKY 938 EX, was also alleged of injuring two persons in the process.

As a result of his reckless driving, he was said to have caused the death of the following persons, Mariam Durojaye, 28, Bukola Johnson ,32 and a nine -year-old girl, Miracle Johnson .

The prosecution said the accused also caused bodily harm on Abiashato Durojaye, 64 and Lafat Odunayo, 26, who were still struggling for their lives at the Trauma centre in Ondo town.

He was charged for dangerous/reckless driving, accident, death and bodily harm for committing the offence on May 26,2019 at about 2035hrs at S/O junction, Oba Adesida road, in the Akure Magisterial District.

The offence was said to contravene section 18(5) of the Road Traffic Laws Cap.136, Volume 3, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The police prosecutor, Sergeant Suleiman Abdullateef, applied for a date to enable him study the case file, while he asked for the court’s permission to duplicate the case file and send to the office of the Director of Public Prosection for legal advice.

Abdullateef, who informed the court that the accused person was from Lagos while his relatives were yet to show up, said it would be risky to grant him bail.

Lawyer for the accused person, Mr Kehinde Aladedutire, did not oppose the adjournment sought by the prosecutor. But he prayed the court to grant his client bail, stressing that it was a road accident which is bailable.

The magistrate, Mrs Victoria Bob-Manuel, held that the charge before the court was an accident case which involved three lives, saying, “Actually, it’s bailable, considering the circumstance that the defendant was not from Ondo state.

She ordered the defendant to be remanded in Olokuta prison custody till the next adjournment date when his bail might be considered.

The case was adjourned till July 4, 2019.